Motor vehicle



Lmwsgz.,

4 SHEETSMSHEET l.

F. G. ALBORN'.

MOTOR VEHXCLE= FILED MAR, Z0. i920.

Jam. 2, 1923.

E. G. ALBORN.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

man MARv 2o, 1920.

4 SHEETS SHEET 2.

4 SHEETS--SHEET 3 E I I I I I I i I I I I I I I l I I l I irma/v@ mam/e Wa/9am@ fmmmm,

F. G. ALBORN.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

FILED MARk 20, 1920.

Jan. 2, 1923,

LLMLSZ.,

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

F G. LBORN.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

.FILED MAR. 20. 1920.

Fatentcd den. 2, 192,3.

entre@ stares FRANS G. Annone?, or rarnronn, CONNECTICUT, AssIGNon, BY Mnsnn AssrGNi/rnnrs,

'ro man nocoinonrnn contenir, or nnrncnronr, CONNECTICUT, .a conrona'rron 01E' DELAWARE. l

Moron vnnrcnn Application filed March 20, 1920. Serial No. 367,310.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that ll, FRANS G. ALBCRN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Milford, in the county of New Haven and State ofConnecticunhave invented an lmprovement in Motor Vehicles, of which the following description, Iin connection with the accompanying drawings, isa specication, like characters on the drawings representing like parts. y

rllhis invention relates `to motor vehicles, and aims to facilitate the assembling of the dash-board, floor,y steps, steering gear, pedals, and'v otherelernents, with the chassis frame, bythe vprovision of a unit'whic'h can be assembledv andapplied as a whole tothe main frame during the final assembly.y

My invention will be best understoodV by reference to the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings of `one specific embodiment thereof, while its scope will be more particularly pointed 'out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of'a portion of' a motor vehicle exemplifying my invention;-

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same on an enlarged scale; l 'Fig' 3 is a sectional view on line 34-3 of Fifg.2; n s Fig. 4 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale on line 4--4 of Fig. 1; y Fig. 5 is ,a sectional view on ancnlarged scale on line 5--5 of Fig. 1; and i Fig. 6 is a sectional view Von line 6-6 of Fig. 2. l

Referring to the drawings, and to the emvleodiinent of my invention which l have selected forA exempliication, l have there shown a portion of a motor vehicle having a chassis frame comprising a pair of longitudina-l side members 7, herein having a channel section, said members being shown in full lines in Figs. 4 and 5, but in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and'2. The chassis frame supports a usual radiator 9, bonnet 11, seatv 13, hand-brake lever `15, and gear-shifting lever 17. All of these parts may be and are herein of usual construction.

Supported on the chassis frame is an auxiliary frame, herein comprising a pair of side brackets 19 connected to each other by a dash-board 21 and a floor, the latter herein comprisinga toot-board 23 and a toelare conveniently in the form of castings,

while the dash-board, foot-board and toeboard, may be conveniently formed of sheet metal, such as steel. Herein, the brackets are also connected to each other by angle irons 27 and 29 (see Fig. 6), which present supports for the front and rear edges oi the toe and foot-boards, respectively, while the side edges are supported by the brackets 19 (see Fig. 2.) Preferably, the fioor is formed of 'two separate plates, which overlap each other as at 31 (see the central portion of Figs. 2 and 3), the left-hand margin of vthe rightfhand plate overlyingthe right-hand margin 'of the left-hand plate, thereby to permit the right-hand plate to be removed and replaced, While the left-hand plate is intended to be more or less permanent, since itprovides a support for the steering column, as will presently appear. The right and left-'hand plates may be appropriately secured to the brackets 19, as by two sets of screws 33, while the overlapping portions of the plates are similarly secured to each other, as by a set of screws 35. The left-hand `plate (see Fig. 3) is herein provided with a set of cleats 37' for the feet to rest upon,l and the right-hand plate is similarly proyided with a set of cleats 39,.v

the use of a bracket 53 havinga collar portion 55,.vencircling the steering column, and two base portions 57 and 59 suitably secured ,to the dash-board 21, as by cap-screws 61 and 63. In the present example, the screw 61 extends into a general prolongation of the left-hand bracket 19 (see Fig. 2), to which the dash-board 21 is secured, as by rivets 65. The cap-screw 63 (see Figs. 2and 3) extendslthrou'gh the'base portion 59 into an ear 67 projecting laterally from a frame I69 which provides amountin for a removable instrument board 71, the atter being secured -in place herein by bolts 73, best shown in Fi 3. This board may serve as a' mountainnr for the usual instruments, such as speedometer, oil and air pressure gauges, battery, indicator, clock and the like, which may be assembled on the instrument board, prior to the installation of the latter in'i'ts frame on the dash-board.

To return to the steering mechanism, the

latterhas a usual'hand-wheel 75 (see Fig.l

1), attached to a shaft 77 (see Figs. 2 and 3), which extends downward through the tubular column and into va gear casing 79 A(see Fig. 5), which usually contains 'a worm and worm gear, or a screw and nut mechanism for imparting movement from y the shaft 77 to a horizontalfhaft '81 which',

is journaledin a sleeve 83 forming a lateral prolongation of the casing 79. To the outer end of the shaft 81'is secured a usuallsteer ingvarm 85, which in practice is customarily connected by' a drag-linkv 87, shown in dotted lines in Fi 1, with` one of the steering knuckles, not s own. The sleeve '83' in 'the presenty example is mounted inl a boss 89,

. forming apart of abracket. 91, which is secured to the adj acet bracket 19 by bolts 93' (see Fig. 5) and to the channel member 7 of the chassis frame'by bolts 95.

The vehicle is provided with usual clutch and 'brake pedals 97 and 99' (see Fig. 2), which extend through openings 101 and 103 in the toe-board 25, and which are secured to sleeves 105 and 107, respectively (see Fig. 4). These sleeves are mounted to turn ou a rod 109. whose terminal portions are supported in the brackets 19, as by providing the'latter with bosses 111. The rodfisheld against lengthwise movement by nuts 113, threaded onto the terminal'portions of the rod and abutting against the brackets 19, respectively. In practice, the sleeve 105 will be connected to any Vusual or desired clutch by suitable connections, including an arm v115 secured to'said sleeve (see Fig. 4).

Similarly, the sleeve 107 will be connected to the brakes by suitable connections, including an arm 117 secured to said sleeve. The vehicle is also provided with a usual accelerator pedal 119, (see Fig. 6)',` extending through an opening 121 in the toe-board 25, ande mounted on a pivot 123 carried by a bracket 125, the latter being secured to the inside of the toe-board, as by rivets 127. The accelerator pedal Will, in practice, be connected by usual connections to the throttle valve of the engine.

The vehicle is herein previded'wi'th a pair vof steps 127 (see Figs. 1 and 4), preferably made of pressed sheet metal of generally U-shaped form, each having a pair of arms 129 extending in an upward direction, and

herein provided (seeFigs. 1 and 4) with ears 135 secured to the channel members-7 of theA chassis frame by lbolts 137. 'The brackets 19 `are likewise secured to the channel members 7 by bolts 139 (see Fig. 4).

By simply removing the bolts 95 Figf), the bolts 137 and the bolts 139 (see Fig. 4), and detaching the brake, clutch and accelerator pedals, and steering arms, as Well as any other similar connections, the auxiliary frame may be Ilifted from its place as a unit. Inthis connection, it should be noted that the foot-board 23 is providedgwith openings 141 vand 143 (see Fig. 3)v for the brake and gear-shifting levers 15 and'v17, respectively. By simplyl placing these levers upright, theV auxiliary frame may be easily removed and replaced without interference.

Itshould now be evident that the auxiliary frame and the fparts which it' supports may be assembled as a unit wherever may be convenient in the factory. This greatly facilitates the assembling of the parts in question, because they are much more accessible than would be the case if it were necessary to assemble them individually on the chassis frame. When the unit is completely assembled, it may be sent to the main assembly point and dropped into place on'the chassis frame, to which it is then seeured by the bolts 95, 137 and 139. It must be evident that, by this means, the assembling operations canl be accomplished much more conveniently and expeditiously than would otherwise be possible.

. Having thus described one embodiment of my invention, butewithout limiting myself thereto, What I claim and desire by Letters Patent to secure is: y

y1. 1n a motor vehicle, the combination with a chassis frame, of a 'readily attachable and detachable unit -mounted thereon, said unit including a pair of side brackets,

`a dashboard', a foot-board and a toe-board y connecting vsaid side brackets, a .pair of steps secured to said brackets, respectively, a steering gear supported by said toe-board, and a set of pedalsl supported by said brackets.

2. In ja vehicle, the combination of a chassis frame comprising a pair of longitudinal side members, a pair of brackets supported on said members, a transverse rod presenting a tie-piece connecting said brackets, land apedal supported by said ro`d.l

1n alvehicle, the combination of Ina-in and auxiliary frames, said auxiliary fran i being supeimpesed (see and carrying steps depending on opposite sides of the exterior of said main frame.

4. lin a vehicle, the combination of main and lauxiliary frames, the latter being superimposed upon the former, said main frame romprising e pair of longitudinal members, and said auxiliary frame comprising a pair of brackets supported on said members, respectively. and a pair of steps depending;- from said brackets on the outer sides of said longitudinal members.

ln testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this speification.

FRANS G. ALBORN. 

